"The growing gap between high-income earners and everyone else is the
number one economic story of our time, yet with few exceptions our
politicians and business leaders are either making it worse or ignoring
it altogether," said James Clancy, president of the National Union of
Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "The purpose of our forum is to
engage grassroots union members and make income inequality an issue our
leaders ignore at their peril in 2013."

The forum, called "The Rich and the Rest of Us," will marry the event at
the Steelworkers Hall with a teleconference of union members across
northeastern Ontario. Broadcaster Andrew Nichols will moderate the
discussion, which will include members of the Elementary Teachers
Federation of Ontario, NUPGE, the Ontario Nurses' Association, the
Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, the Ontario Public
Service Employees Union, the Service Employees International Union, the
Society of Energy Professionals, and the United Steelworkers.

Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Planning Council of
Sudbury, will join James Clancy as a panelist for the discussion.

"Social Planning Councils across the province have been working on
poverty reduction strategies since we've existed," said Gasparini.
"Talking about income inequality gets people talking about poverty in a
much broader context. This is not just about poor people - it's about
all of us. I'm really looking forward to the discussion."

"Growing income inequality is not an accident," said Clancy. "It is the
result of deliberate public policies that have boosted corporate
profits while reducing tax fairness, cutting and privatizing public
services, undermining collective bargaining, driving down wages, and
abandoning any notion that a successful modern province needs a modern
industrial strategy. Exploring how we turn this situation around will
be a key part of the conversation on Tuesday night."

A light supper will be served at the Steelworkers Hall starting at 5:45
p.m.; child care is available.